In its ninth year, the contest invites students worldwide to submit inventive new product designs, redesigns of existing products, or original or redesigned works of art or architecture, for a chance to win scholarship money.

Students at the middle school, high school and college level are able to participate in the design challenge.

“The contest offers students an engaging challenge that will put their creativity and critical thinking skills to the test while giving them a chance at a scholarship,” says Jesse Roitenberg, Stratasys Education Channel Manager. “Every year, we’re impressed with the level of dedication students take with the designs they submit.”

Besides the chance to win scholarship money, this year’s contest offers a new incentive for those in the college engineering category. Finalists will have their designs reviewed by Edison Nation, which is a matchmaker between inventors and manufacturers looking for new products to commercialize. If a design fits an existing need and meets requirements, the finalist will be considered for a licensing agreement.

As in prior years, Stratasys will award nine student winners either $2,500 or $1,000 scholarships in the categories of Middle School and High School Engineering, College Engineering, and Art & Architecture. Designs are awarded based on creativity, usefulness, part integrity and aesthetics. Instructors of the three first-place student winners will receive an Apple iPad for use in the classroom. Since the contest’s inception, more than $100,000 in scholarships has been awarded to students.

Each submission must:

be a sound mechanical design

be realistic and achievable

include a clear written description of the design.

This year’s contest will also feature the award category, “Engineering a Difference,” in which students may compete for a bonus prize. Students whose designs are aimed at solving a great societal challenge will have a chance to win a $250 gift card.